Purpose: To develop team and individual rebounding and blocking out skills. Drill: Divide into 5 offense and 5 defense and position them around any circle on the floor (could also go with groups of 3 or 4, if necessary). Place a basketball in the middle of the circle. On the whistle or word 'shot', the defenders will attempt to stop the offensive players from getting to the ball for 3 seconds. Options: Spread players back about 5 feet to make the circle bigger Defenders must hold offensive … [Read more...]
Cone Dodge Rebounding Drill
Purpose: To develop body control and footwork when rebounding the basketball. Drill: Place cones on the floor in the lane area as shown. Players will line up around the three-point circle, each will be given a number. One player will be the 'shooter'; they can take turns as the shooter. The coach will yell out a number and that player will immediately go after the rebound by weaving through the cones. The ball should not hit the floor and the player should not touch any of the cones. Once the … [Read more...]
Two Line Tips Drill
Purpose: To develop ball control and rebounding skills, as well as work on conditioning. Drill: Place 2 cones at the midcourt area as shown. Players will form 2 lines with the first player in each line holding a basketball. Two line tips is a continuous drill that begins with O1 and O2 simultaneously tossing their basketballs against the backboard, then sprinting around their corresponding cones to the opposite line. O3 and O4 will then jump up, grab the ball, come down with it, jump back … [Read more...]
Cut-Throat Rebounding Game
Purpose: To develop rebounding aggressiveness. Sometimes, rebounding is more than footwork and blocking out ... it's about just getting the !@#$ basketball! This competitive drill will teach your players to simply get the basketball. Drill: All players begin at one basket; coach has a basketball. The coach will shoot the basketball and on the missed shot, every player will scramble for the rebound. The player who gains control of the rebound will give the ball back to the coach and leave the … [Read more...]
1-on-1 Box Out Drill
Purpose: Work on rebounding -- both offensive and defensive -- in a competitive situation. Drill: Divide into groups of three -- a shooter, offensive player and defensive player. If you have the space, you can have 3 players at each basket; otherwise you can place more than one threesome at a basket. The shooter will take shots from various spots on the court. The offensive rebounder should always begin about 10-15 feet away from the basket and the defensive player will start in defensive … [Read more...]
Reaction Rebounding Drill
Purpose: Teach players to react quickly when a shot is taken and to compete for the rebound. Drill: The coach stands on the free throw line with a basketball; 2 lines of players behind. The first 2 players stand next to each other in front of the coach, facing the basket. On the shot, both players must react and attack the basketball -- only one can get the rebound! Once rebounded, next 2 players step up. For a variation, you can play so the 'winner' stays. Coaching Points: Go up tall, come … [Read more...]
Rebound and Outlet Drill
Purpose: To learn proper rebounding and outlet passing techniques. Drill: Player 'R' is the rebounder and begins this drill by tossing the basketball against the backboard and rebounding it. The coach should make sure the rebounder 'chins' the ball and that he does not bring the ball down after rebounding it. Upon rebounding the ball, the player will pivot toward the outlet player and step toward him, executing a two-handed overhead pass. Player 'O' should catch and face towards his basket … [Read more...]
Chair Rebounding Drill
Purpose: To work on offensive rebounding skills and footwork. The chairs on the court force the player to utilize good footwork in crashing the board. Drill: 9 chairs (or cones) are needed for this drill. The chairs are placed on the court as shown by the squares in the diagram. The coach or manager will shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. The player going after the rebound can also start anywhere on the court but should be outside the lane. The drill begins with the coach (C) shooting … [Read more...]
1-on-1 Competitive Rebounding Drill
Purpose: To develop the hustle and skill required in crashing the boards to secure a rebound. Competitiveness is also a required skill to find success in this basketball rebounding drill. Drill: Players form two lines facing the basket, one on each side of the elbow. A coach or manager will stand near the free throw line and shoot the ball so it rebounds off the rim. (To save time and to get more game-like rebounds, consider investing in a basketball rebounding aid available at the Hoops U. … [Read more...]
Toss and Move Under the Ball Rebounding Drills
The two rebounding drills below are simple, effective drills to help teach youth basketball players how to move to the basketball and to get in the habit of jumping and extending to secure the rebound. Of course, if your higher level players aren't rebounding, they might also benefit from getting back to the real basics of rebounding! Purpose: To develop rebounding skills by learning to move to the basketball and to catch it at its highest point. Drill 1: 2 players with 1 basketball … [Read more...]